The garden is beautifully situated in the oldest part of the city, Ostrow Tumski, near majestic Gothic churches. The Garden was established as a scientific institution of Wrocaw University in 1811. One of the Gardens highlights is a geological cross-section of hard coal deposit built more than 100 years ago. Dark coal-seams are separated by layers of sedimentary rocks: sandstones and shales. The section has been encrusted with fossils of extinct plants, which, during millions of years, turned into hard coal.